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NOTE ON MEETING FORMAT: We will open the Zoom Room at 11:45 AM. Liam McCarthy begins the official meeting at noon at which point it’s best if all mikes are muted. Assuming the speaker is present, Liam will hand off the virtual podium to Todd Allen who will introduce our speaker. Following the question and answer session, Liam will conduct the business portion of our meeting, which will end no later than 1:00 PM. 

 

 

Jim Bonney and Dave Bradley each contributed a Happy Dollar in honor of Dave’s son, Jeff, who was featured on a NEASC Zoom presentation on foreign schools that was watched by over 2400 viewers--- roughly 100 times the number who attended last week’s meeting.... and more that 2300 than our Zoom account can handle!  

 

Tom Csatari offered a Happy Dollar in honor of his daughter, Sasha, who attained a Masters Degree in Social Work from Boston Universty. 

 

Dave Allen contributed on Happy Dollar in appreciation of those Rotarians who have made some kind of contribution to the Rotary Foundation so that our club can achieve the goal of having every member contribute… subtly reminding the rest of the club members to get with it! 

 

Dick Podolec gave a Happy Dollar to celebrate the opening of the Storrs Pond tennis courts and his intention to sustain the Connecticut Valley League in the face of the pandemic. He also reported that Michelle Sun, organizer of Dartmouth College’s Roteract Club hopes to be organizing volunteers from her club to help Listen once the college reopens. 

 

Don Pasini offered a Happy Dollar in appreciation for Florida's decision to reopen barber shops, making it possible for him to get his hair cut. 

 

Todd Allen expressed his appreciation for his wife giving him a haircut, contributing a Happy Dollar of his own. 

 

Deecie Denison won the virtual raffle for a $10 discount when Jesse’s reopens sometime in the future and announced he was contributing to the Covid 19 fund (see below) . 

 

 

Liam McCarthy urged club members to consider making donations to the club’s Covid 19 Fund in lieu of paying for lunches at Jesse’s, which is saving members $18/week. Here’s the link to make your donation!  

 

 

 

Kathy Geragthy introduced Kathleen Vasconcelos, Executive Directorof the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council who described the wide scope of the services offered by the agency, which, in the pre-pandemic world, managed 8 centers, transported seniors to appointments, served on site meals at centers, and offered Meals on Wheels five days-per-week. She then outlined the changes her organization has made in response to the coronavirus: the closure of all but three centers; the elimination of on-site meal service; and the cutback on Meals on Wheels to once a week with frozen entrees replacing the usual meals prepared daily. While the organization still employs 100 individuals, their jobs have changed, the number of volunteers who typically helped out has diminished, mainly because of the site closures. She noted that while volunteers are no longer needed, donations are greatly appreciated--- donations of food and provisions like toilet paper. 

 

Kathleen Vasconcelos also expressed her deep appreciation for the $20,000 grant Rotary gave her, which exemplifies the kind of support she gets from many community groups and businesses. She noted that King Arthur Flour, Pete and Gerry’s, Dartmouth College, and Clark’s Trading Post have provided considerable help with the transition to weekly food deliveries and the closure of the onsite cafeterias. With a $3,600,000 budget, most of which comes from local and state governments and grants, Kathleen Vasconcelos foresees the need for more external support in the future. 

 

 

May 27 – Liam McCarthy introduces Dartmouth economics professor Danny Blanchflower

 

June 3 – Todd Allen introduces Sam Hooper, CEO of the Vermont Glove Company 

 

 

June 17 – Heather Drinan introduces Ashley Doolittle from the Center for Social Impact at Dartmouth. 

 

 

July 1 – Changeover meeting, where our current President Liam McCarthysteps down and hands the gavel to incoming President Todd Allen. 

 

As noted in last week’s bulletin and at the meeting, with Zoom meetings we could invite speakers from faraway places (i.e. outside of driving distance of Jesse’s) to share ideas and insights.. and as noted above, we need speakers for June 10 and June 24.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne Gersen